Pool alarm



Sept. 23, 1969 1 P. TETRAULT 3,463,283

POOL ALARM 2 Smets-sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1967 INVENTOR. fan/Af@ Pfff/@raar Sept., 23, 1969 l... P. TETRAULT 3,468,233

POOL ALARM Filed May 5, 196'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 $1/ n 4 l INVENTOR.. fa/1MP@ P 727224 0.a r BY n y f g M77- M'wf United States Patent O 3,468,283 POOL ALARM Leonard P. Tetrault, Northport, N.Y., assignor to Aerodyne Controls Corporation, Farmingdale, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 3, 1967, Ser. No. 635,910 Int. Cl. G08b 3/02, 3/06 U.S. Cl. 116-67 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The pool alarm of the invention comprises a 'buoyant body adapted to fioat on the surface of the water in the pool, there being a vane member, which is immersed in the water, having a broad generally horizontal surface connected to and supported by the body. The vane member, because of the water above it, tends to remain behind when the buoyant body rises either as a whole or locally as a result of a disturbance in the water. Means is provided on the alarm to detect relative movement between the body and the vane member, such means operating a signal means `which is preferably mounted on the alarm. In the illustrative embodiment the signal means is gas-powered, and when energized remains in operation until reset.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to an alarm or signalling device which emits a signal or warning upon a disturbance in a pool of liquid such as a swimming pool.

Description of the prior art Prior pool alarms are shown in the patents to Gerber, No. 2,896,038, July 21, 1959; Northey, No. 2,935,582, May 3 1960; and in the pending application of Nelson et al., Ser. No. 525,008, filed Ian. 10, 1966, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The device of Gerber floats on top of the pool and operates by establishing a conductive path between electrodes of the water of the pool. The system of Northey employs a housing fixed with respect to the Pool, such housing having a pair of compartments into and out of one of which water passes more rapidly than into and out of the other. The signal of the Northey device is operated by a diaphragm between the compartments, such diaphragm being movable by a pressure dierence in the compartments. The alarm device shown in the Nelson et al. application employs a diaphragm which spans a chamber in pressure communicating relationship with a body of air confined above the surface of a portion of the liquid in the pool. Distortion of such diaphragm by changes in pressure in the air which is trapped in the chamber caused by disturbances of the liquid in the pool closes contacts in an electrical circuit for energizing an electric signalling device.

The devices of Gerber and Nelson et al. employ electrically operated signalling devices with supply circuits and switches therefor and thus are prone to failure by reason of current leakages and short circuits caused by moisture in the air, by the water of the pool, or by rain water. The signalling device Vof Northey operates* for only a short time, and then only at the height of the disturbance in the pool. The signal emitted by such device may, therefore, escape the notice of persons other than those in the immediate vicinity of the pool.

ice

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The alarm device of the invention includes a buoyant body adapted to float on the surface of the water in the pool, such 'body carrying a signal means and means responsive to disturbances in the water to operate the signal means. In the illustrative preferred embodiment of the invention the pool alarm employs an air or gas operated horn carried by the buoyant body as the signal means. The means for powering such horn is preferably Freon, which is contained in liquied form in a pressure can partially submerged in the water of the pool so that such water acts as a heat sink to supply heat to the container to counteract its cooling upon the discharge of its contents in expanded, gaseous form.

The means for detecting disturbances in the water of the pool is in the form of a broad, preferably somewhat flexible vane which is supported upon the buoyant body, is immersed in the water, and is preferably disposed generally therebelow. The vane is so constructed as to be generally movable as a whole with respect to the buoyant body, and preferably has a specific gravity close to that of water, so as substantially to nullify the eiect of the inertia ofthe vane itself in the operation of the alarm. The vane is self-sustaining but is thin. When the buoyant :body rises as a whole or locally during tipping, all or part of the vane tends to remain behind, that is, at a fixed position in the water. Means is provided connecting the vane to the signal means so as to operate the signal means upon a predetermined degree of movement of the vane as a whole downwardly with respect to the buoyant body.

The illustrative pool alarm is so constructed that when once energized the signal means remains operative until either the source of gas pressure is exhausted or the signal means is shut off by a reset mechanism. After the alarm device has been reset, the alarm device is ready for further operation, assuming that a substantial amount of gas remains in the gas container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a view partially in longitudinal axial section and partially in side elevation of the illustrative embodiment of pool alarm in accordance with the invention, the operating lever for the signalling device of the alarm being shown in solid lines in its cocked position and in phantom lines in the position in `which it operates the alarm device, the section being taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in plan and partially in horizontal section through the pool alarm of FIG. 1, the section being taken along the 'broken Section line 2-2 0f FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the pool alarm oating in a swimming pool which is fragmentarily shown;

FIG. 4 is a view in top rear perspective of the pool alarm;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the pool alarm, the view being taken from somewhat above the alarm and to one side of the front end thereofrand FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the operating lever for the signalling device, portions of the chains connectin; the'lever to the alarm operating vane or sail and to the lid of the pool alarm, and a portion of the'operating plunger for the valve of the alarm device being shown somewhat schematically in exploded relationship with such lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of pool alarm is designated generally by the reference character 10. Such pool alarm has a buoyant body 11 in the form of a molded piece of molded foame'd polystyrene, and a removable downwardly-concave lid 12 which 'tightly covers the main extent of the body 11. Body 11 is provided with a shallow recess 14 shaped to ac-cept a a laterally centrally located vertical opening 15 adjacent .the front thereof and a central vertical longitudinally ex- 4 wall 46 having a large hole 47 therethrough aligned with v the mouth of the horn portion 35.

tending slot 16 adjacent the rear thereof. The signalling device of the alarm, which is generally designated 17, is

mounted upon the plate 22 which, as above noted, ts

within the shallow recess 14 in the body 11. It will be seen that the shape of plate 22 and recess 14 is such as to prevent rotation of plate 22 with respect to the body 11. In the illustrative embodiment the plate and recess are triangular in shape, the plate 22 having an apex 24 and a base 25.

The signalling device 17 is powered by compressed gas from a container or can 19 which is secured to and depends from the plate 22 in a manner to be described. The disturbance detecting means is in the form of a generally annular vane 20 which is secured centrally to the forward edge of the body 11, the vane having a central hole 18 best shown in FIG. 1, through which the lower end of the can 19 freely protrudes so that the Canis partially immersed in the water of the pool.

The base plate 22 is provided with a generally central hole 26 therethrough to receive therethrough the short externally and internally threaded end portion 28 of housing 29 of valve 30. Valve 30 is held in position on base 'plate' 22 by a lock nut 23 on the external threads of end portion 28 of valve 30 and tightly engaging the lower surface of base plate 22. Nipple 27 of container 19 is threaded into the internally threaded opening of end 28 of valve 30 in order to secure container 19 to valve 30 for operation of the signalling device 17. The upper end of the can 19 fits snugly within the forward vertical opening 15 in the body 11. By screwing the can 19 and thus the nipple 27 upwardly into end 28 of the casing 29 of the valve 30, the contents of the container 19 are opened to the valve 30 and sealed against leakage to atmosphere by a mechanism within the end 28 of valve 30; such screw connection also securely attaches the container 19 to base plate 22.

The signalling device 17 is in the form of an air or gas horn having a main body 32 which is connected to the upper portion of the valve housing 29 by a second threaded nipple 34. The signalling device has a main forwardly ared horn portion 35, the forward end of which communicates with an opening 47 through the lid 12. The lid 12 is held in such position by a clip device 40, to b e described, and by virtue of fitting tightly over the outside diameter of buoyant body 11. Clip device 40 includes 1a threaded stud 37 which extends downwardly through an opening in the lid 12 and is retained in place `by a nut 39. Such nut also secures a downwardly extending spring clip device 40 to the stud. The clip device 40 has opposed symmetrical oppositely bent depending spaced fingers 41 which are adapted to be sprung downwardly over the root of the flared horn portion 35 of the signalling device, as shown in FIG. 1, thereby securely but releasably to retain the lid in position on the body 11 o `the: alarm device.

As indicated at 21 in FIGS. 4 and 5 a handle -for lifting the alarm out of the water is provided by the lifting 1 ring 36 secured to the lid 12.

The top wall 42 of the lid 12 slants downwardlyutoward the rear where it is connected to a vertical skirt .44 which overlies the rear surface of the body 11 of the alarm device. At its forward end the wall 42 is disposed generally horizontal and is joined to a forward vertical mal, forward position and the valve is open when the pin is pulled to be displaced rearwardly Vrelative to the casing 29 of the valve. Surrounding the outer end portion 0f the plunger pin 49 is a xed sleeve 50 secured to the casing 29 of the valve 30. f

A generally horizontally extending toggle bar S1 a shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a vertical central slot 52 in the forward end thereof, such slot freely receiving the outer end of the pin 49 between the thus formed spaced ears 54. The bar 51 is pivotally secured to the outer end of the plunger pin 49 by a pivot pin 56 which extends in that order through a rst ear 54 on bar V51, the plunger pin and the second'ear 54. The ears 54 have somewhat less vertical thickness than the height of the bar 51, the lower surfaces of the ears 54 being formed by a y90 cut S5 in the lower forward edge of the bar 51. Y

The forward lower corners of the ears 54 are identical and are made in the form of cams 57 which bear upon respective diametrically opposed outer end portions of the sleeve 50 projecting rearwardly from the body 29 of the valve 30. The configuration of the cams 57 is such that when the bar 51 lies horizontnally or somewhat above the horizontal, as shown in FIG. l, the plunger pin 49 is in its forward position and the valve 30 is closed, 'and that when the bar 51 is pivoted downwardly appreciably, the plunger pin 49 is pulled rearwardly and the valve 30 is opened.

To provide for such operation of the bar 51 by the water disturbance-responsive vane 20, there is provided a cocking means comprising a toggle device of which the bar 51 forms one arm. The other arm of the toggle device is formed by a composite spring device 59 which has two spaced parallel coil tension spring portions 60 joined by a cross portion or bar 61. The cross bar 61 of the composite spring device is stably received within a transversely extending seat l66 in the bar 51 adjacent the rear end thereof. The forward ends of the two legs of the composite spring device 59 are provided with downwardly bent tangs 64, such tangs being received within vertically extending holes adjacent the ends of a cross bar 62. Bar 62 is adjustable vertically relative to the plate 22, in a manner to be described,land thus with respect to the pivot pin 56, whereby to permit the adjustment of the sensitivity of the toggle device.

The ends of cross bar 62 extend through the end walls of a bridge 67 which rises above the main extent of the plate 22, and is preferably molded integrally therewith. The bridge 67 has an upper broad portion 69 which is attached to the plate 22 by opposite spaced parallel end walls 70. The end walls 70 have aligned rectangular apertures 71 therethrough to receive the ends ofthe bar 62 f and to permit its vertical adjustment throughout a substantial range of travel. A vertically disposed adjusting screw 72 extends freely through a hole 75 in plate 22 and a hole 76 in portion 69- of the bridge 67. The screw 72 is threadedly mounted in a threaded central hole 73 in the bar 62, the enlarged head 74 of the the screw 72 being disposed beneath the plate 22, as shown in FIG. 1. 'Ihe head 74 of the screw 72 is slotted, as shown, and is exposed within opening 15 in body 11 for adjustment as by a screwdriver. The screw 72 is retained against substantial upward vertical movement by a spacer sleeve 77 which is telescoped thereover and is disposed between the bottom surface of the plate 22 and the head 74 of the screw, and against downward movement by a cross pin 79 which extends through the upper end of the screw lat a location above the upper portion 69 of the bridge 67.

It will be apparent that when the bar 62 is adjusted y vertically to the position shown in FIG. 1, the spring portions 60 of the composite spring device 59 have their forward end portions located slightly above the pivot pin 56. The spring portions 60, therefore, exert a component of force upon the bar 51 which tends to rotate it clockwise as it is shown in FIG. 1. When the bar 51 is subjected to a counterclockwise force, as by a` downward pull upon the rear end thereof, the spring action of the device 59 is overcome, the bar 51 then swings through dead center, and thereafter assumes a lowered stable position in which the cams 57 pull the plunger 49 into its rear terminal position, thereby fully opening the valve 30. To avoidthe jamming of the cams 57 against the sleeve 50, the rear edge of the plate 22 is provided centrally thereof with a bevelled stop surface 81 which is engaged by the lower surface of the bar 51 when the latter is in its lowermost position. The plate 22 is provided with spaced parallel longitudinally extending upstanding wings 80' which are disposed inwardly of the respective legs 60 of the spring 59. The wings 80 extend rearwardly somewhat beyond the rear edge of the plate 22.

In the embodiment showin the casing 29 of valve 30 is square in horizontal section. The wings 80` are spaced apart a distance which slightly exceeds the Width of the casing 29, so that the wings prevent the rotation of the valve and horn after they have been assembled on the plate 22. The bar 51, which is rectangular in cross section, has a width whichis slightly less than the distance between the wings S0, whereby the wings guide the bar in its oscillation in a vertical plane, and prevent theturning of the bar about its longitudinal axis.

The vane 20 is attached centrally to the body 11 of the p alarm device at the forward end thereof by a connecting means which is generally designated 82. Means 82 includes a vertically extending relatively narrow laterally central upstanding arm portion 84 on the vane, such arm being bent rearwardly and then upwardly at 85, terminating at,

an upwardly projecting tang I86. Such arm portion of the vane extends inwardly through a hole 88 in the forward edge portion 45 of the lid or cover 12 so that the upstanding tang 86 of the vane is gripped between the inner surface of portion 45 of the lid and the forward surface of the body 11.

The "main portion of the vane 20 slants downwardly at a relatively small angle from the forward edge to the rear edge thereof, the forward main portion of the vane being slightly curved at 89 from the central arm 84 rearwardly to two generally oppositely extending shallow radial folds 90 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 in the vane. The portion 91 of the vane rearwardly of the folds 90 is generally of flat, sector shape. symmetrically secured toportion 91 of the vane adjacent the rear edge thereof and to the rear of folds 90 are two angularly disposed runs 92i of a exible tension sustaining member such as a bead chain, which exerts substantially no opposing force when' it is subjected to compression. Thus any upward move-' ment of the vane is not transmitted by the runs 92 of the flexible member, and unwanted closing of the valve 30 by' the vane is avoided.

The runs 92 of the bead chain are secured at their The bar 51 may be pulled upwardly into the valveu closed position of FIG. 1 by pulling ring 100 upwardly, thereby pulling the chain 96 upwardly through hole 101. The bar 51 may be locked in such valve-closed posi-s tion by hooking the pull ring 100 over a xed upstandn ing projection 104 which, in the embodiment shown, is formed integrally with the lid or cover 12 of the alarm device. The pool alarm is rendered operative ,by releasing ring 100 from projection 104, whereby the bar 51 is then free to pivot downwardly from its valve-closed position into the valve-open position shown in phantom lines in FIG. l.

In the device shown, there is provided a positive stop to prevent movement of the bar 51 upwardly past its valve-closed position., Such positive ystop is in the form of a cross pin 105 which extends between the wings 80 at their rear upper corners. The bar 51 engages the pin 105 when the bar is disposed in the full line position thereof shown in FIG. l, thereby preventing any possible reverse camming effect between cams 57 andthe rear end surface of sleeve 50 and the opening of the valve` 30 to bleed off the gaseous contents of container 19'.

The illustrative pool alarm is substantially equally sensitive to disturbances in the water of the pool which occur either immediately in the vicinity of the alarm or are spaced therefrom in 4any direction. Any disturbance in the water of the pool which causes the alarm device to rise as a whole with reference to the Water will produce a substantial downwardly directed force upon the vane 20 and thus upon one or both of the lower runs 92 of the chain. A downward pull upon one or both of such chains of a predetermined value, depending upon the adjustment of the toggle angle by the screw 72, will cause the bar 51 to be pulled downwardly past dead center and then, under the action of the springs 60, to snap downwardly into its fully Valve-open position, as

shown in phantom lines in FIG.4 l. Such action occursv even when the disturbance in the water is such .as mere ly-.to cause the alarm device as a whole to tip.Under such conditions a substantial pull is exerted upon the run 92 of thelower chain which is at the side of the-poolv 1 alarm which then tends to rise. Again, if such pull is of su'icient magnitude, the toggle device will be actuated v to open the valve.

lower ends to fittings 94 secured to the portion 91 yof the vane, the runs 92 of the bead chain extending up wardly symmetrically in an inverted V relationship to a tting 95 by which such runs are secured to the rear end of the bar 51. Also secured to the rear end of the bar 51 is the lower end of an upper run of a tiexible member 96, which is likewise shown as being a bead chain. A tting 97 on the lower end of chain 96 and the above-mentioned fitting 95 have ringportions through which a machine screw 99 screwed into the bar 51 ex-I tends. The upper end ofthe upper bead chain 96 is pro;1

l vided with a- 'pull fring 100 which when extended lies A satisfactoryimaterial from which the vane 20 may` be made is heavy sheet vinyl acetate. The vane is made of such thickness as to be self-sustaining but not so thick that it cannot bend at the connecting means 82, as when the vane is subjected to a disturbance in the water.

In the illustrative embodiment, the vane is made of such diameter that it extends beyond the outline of the alarm device proper in all directions. The edges of the vane thus act as a guard to maintain the alarm device proper free from contact with the walls of a pool in which the device may be freely floating. Should a dis= turbance occur in the water when the alarml device is in contact with the wall of the pool, the friction between the edge of the vane 20 and such wall adds to the downwardly directed force exerted upon the vane should the alarm device tend to rise as a whole or to be tipped by such disturbance. It is to be understood, however, that the diameter of the vane may vary somewhat from that in the illustrative embodiment, and that such diameter may, if desired, be smaller than that of the body of the alarm device.

The loud blast of the horn can be heard for a very substantial distance and will draw people to the pool. Should gas still remain in the container 19 when a person reaches the alarm, the horn may be shut oit by grasping the lifting ring 36 to lift the alarm device .at least pars tially from the water, and then pulling the ring up' wardly, thus restoring the bar 51 to the upper, valve closed position, shown in solid lines in FIG. l. Alternatively, of course, the bar may be restored to its upper position by pulling upwardly on the pull .ring 100 only 7 while the alarm device remains in the water. The pull ring 100 may also be employed .as a lifting handle, the raising of the alarm device from the water by the pull ring 100 alone also serving to shut off the horn should 1t then be operating.

Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as lthe suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the'invention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A pool alarm comprising, a supporting buoyant body adapted to fioat on the surface of the water in a pool, normally inoperative signal means mounted on the body, a broad transversely extending vane co-nnected to and supported by said body for separating movement with respect thereto, the vane being positioned below the body to be completely submersible a substantial distance belo-w the water surface, means for detecting relative separating movement between the vane and the body when the body rises as a result of a water disturbance, and signal operating means mounted on. the body responsive to the detecting means for actuating the signal means into continuous operation upon the detection of a predetermined degree of relative separating movement.

2. The pool'alarm of claim 1 wherein detecting means includes a tension sustaining member extending between and secured to the vane and the signal operating means.

3. The pool alarm of claim 2 wherein the vane is pivotally attached to the body at one zone thereof, and the tension sustaining means is secured to the vane at a location remote from said zone of its pivotal attachment to the body.

4. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 3 wherein the vane is annular and loosely surrounds a lower portion of the signal means, and the tension sustaining member has two similar parts, each of said two parts being connected at one of its ends to the signal operating means and at the other of its ends to the vane at spaced zones located substantially symmetrically relative to the zone of attachment of the vane to the body.

5. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tension sustaining member is flexible and exerts substantially no thrust upon the signal operating means when the vane and body relatively approach each other.

6. The pool alarm of claim 1, wherein the signal operating means includes a cooking means, and the detecting means includes an elongated tension sustaining member 'extending between and secured to said load and fire means and said vane.

7. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cocking means comprises a toggle having first and second arms pivotally connected at their ends, said first arm comprising spring means connected to the toggle to retain the arms stably in either one of two terminal positions angularly displaced relative to each other, said tension sustaining member being connected at one end thereof to said second arm of the toggle.

8. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 7 wherein the signal means has an operating plunger reciprocable between two positions, the signal means being inoperative when the plunger is in a first position and operative when it is in a second position, and comprising means on the toggle for moving the plunger from said first to said second position thereof, thereby to operate the signal means, upon the movement of the toggle substantially from a first of its terminal positions toward and into its second" terminal position.

9. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means on the toggle for reciprocating the plunger comprises a plunger operating cam on one arm of the toggle remote from the pivotal connection between the two said arms.

10. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plunger is depressed whenit lies in the said first position thereof and is extended when it lies in its said ysecond position, and the surface of the cam rises from a first, low level zone, which operates the plunger when the toggle is in its first position, to a second, high level zone, which operates the plunger when the toggle passes through its central position in its travel from its iirst toward and into its second position, said second zone of the cam continuing to operate the plunger in the travel position, and

stop means for stopping movement of said toggle in each of said terminal positions.

11. A pool alarm as claimed inclaim 10, comprising handle means for lifting the alarm from the water, and means connecting the handle means to the toggle whereby to restore the toggle to its first terminal position upon lifting the alarm by said handle.

12. A pool alarm as claimed in clairn,1,wherein the signal means includes-a gas-operated horn, a container charged with -gas under pressure for operating the horn, a normally closed valve interposed between the container and the horn, and means .responsive to disturbances in the water for opening the valve to operate the horn.

13. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gas in the container is at least partially in liquified form.

14. A pool alarm as claimed in claim 13, wherein the container is supported on the body so as to have a substantial part thereof immersed in the water of the pool, whereby the water functions as a heat source for the contents of the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,138 9/1914 Hill et al. 116-107 X' 1,050,947 l/1913 Johnson et al 116-108 X 1,264,115 4/1918 Moore a- 73-307 X 2,793,651 5/1957 Gomez 116-112 X 2,896,038 7/1959 Gerber.

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner D. M. YASICH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 340-261 

